Building activity, as measured by the number of dwelling unit approvals, is often used as one of the main indicators of the economic health of the state.

In 2003-04 there were 3,141 dwelling units approved in Tasmania. This was an increase of 65.9% on the 1999-2000 figure of 1,893. Of the dwelling units approved in 2003-04, some 2,687 (85.5%) were new houses, 387 (12.3%) were new residential buildings other than houses, and 67 (2.1%) were other dwelling units.

DWELLING UNIT APPROVALS, Tasmania

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

no.

no.

no.

no.

no.

New houses

1,608

1,108

1,879

1,964

2,687

New other residential buildings(a)

230

80

141

164

387

Other dwelling units created (conversions etc.)(b)

55

10

13

17

67

Total dwelling units

1,893

1,198

2,033

2,145

3,141

(a) New individual dwelling units (e.g. flats, home units and villa units).(b) From alterations and additions to residential building, new or alteration work on non-residential building or conversion of non-residential building to residential building.Source: Building Approvals, Australia - Time Series Spreadsheet (cat. no. 8731.0, table 10F).